Fingerprinting apparatus

ABSTRACT

Finger printing apparatus includes a square block has two holes, one of which goes completely through the block, the other hole only part way. A metal rod, which is inserted into the center back edge of a fingerprint card-holder. The block is affixed to a table top used for fingerprinting. When the card-holder, with the rod is placed into the short hole in the block, it permits the card-holder to rotate. This rotation then allows the card-holder to roll around the finger in the taking of fingerprints, instead of rolling the finger in a half circle to get a complete set of prints. The other hole in the block allows the card-holder to be used in a fixed position without any rotation, if desired.

[451 July 11, 1972 [541 FINGERPRINTING APPARATUS [72] Inventor: Jay R.beak, 29l49 Emery Road,

Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022 [22] Filed: Jan. 20, 1972 [2|] Appl.No.:l8l,l0l

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 228.953 5/l960 Australia .248" 17.7

Primary Examiner-Morris Kaplan [57] ABSTRACT Finger printing apparatusincludes a square block has two holes, one of which goes completelythrough the block, the other hole only part way. A metal rod. which isinserted into the center back edge of a fingerprint card-holder. Theblock is afiixed to a table top used for fingerprinting. When thecardholder. with the rod is placed into the short hole in the block. itpermits the card-holder to rotate. This rotation then allows thecard-holder to roll around the finger in the taking of fingerprints,instead of rolling the finger in a half circle to get a complete set ofprints. The other hole in the block allows the card-holder to be used ina fixed position without any rotation, if desired.

lClalmADrawingFigures P'A TEN'TEDJuL 11 1972 3,675,618

sum 2 or 2 luvemoa Wm Q $1 4k FINGERPRINTING APPARATUS My invention hasrelation to a fingerprinting apparatus, more particularly an object ofmy invention is to provide a device which is a great improvement andhelp in the taking of inked impressions of fingers for identification ofpersons, criminal or civilian, either of whom have some deformity orstiff fingers, arm or wrist which prevents the rotation of the fingers,an absolute requirement in getting a true, distinct and complete patternof all the fingers, necessary for classification.

To get a complete pattern, it is necessary to roll each finger on aninked surface, either glass or pad, then again roll the inked finger,from one side to the other in a half circle, onto a record card inspaces provided for each finger on a standard card. If any one finer issmudged or incomplete, classification cannot be made properly.

A certain percentage of people are afflicted with some defonnity, injuryor arthritic condition, which prevents their fingers or arm from beingturned or twisted in a half circle. As a result it is difficult, or evenimpossible to get a complete set of prints in the normal fashion.

My invention provides a fingerprint card-holder assembly so designedthat in such difficult cases the card-holder can be rotated around thefingers.

Presently, all standard fingerprint card-holders are permanentlyfastened to a table or other work surface, and are in no way movable orportable. My invention makes it possible to use the card-holder in thesame stationary way, but, when necessary, can be readily changed to therotating position. It may also be removed from the table and used toprint a cadaver. Heretofore, to print a dead person it was necessary tocut a fingerprint card into individual squares, place each square intoan apparatus known as the dead-mans-spoon, print the subject, then pasteeach square back onto another card. Any mixup in the sequence of fingerswould pose another problem in classification.

To these ends, my invention resides in a multiple tool of greatassistance to those who must take fingerprints. These im provements andadvantages are hereinafter fully described and illustrated in theappended drawings, in which;

FIG. l is an angle view showing the block, fastened to the table, whichaccepts a metal rod extending from the backcenter of the card-holder,permitting the rotation of the cardholder.

FIG. 2 is an angle view showing the card-holder with the rod placed inthe other hole, which then makes the assembly stationary, and allows itto be used as heretofore, without any movement.

FIG. 3 is an end view, showing the rotation executed with thecard-holder in the rotating position.

FIG. 4 is an end view showing the use of another hole in thecard-holder, which allows any finger to be printed using a hole which isthe axis for that particular finger. This reduces the arc of thecard-holder, thereby reducing the rotation to a very small movement.

My invention makes no claim on the manner in which the record card isheld in the card-holder; there are many varied ways this is donepresently.

My invention consists of a block (B) in FIG. 1, (plastic in this case,but could be any substantial material) measuring approximately 295 X 2%X %inches, with two holes measuring approximately 54 inch in diameter,spaced about W inches apart. One hole goes completely through the block,FIG. 1, hole 1; the other hole 2, which goes only part way. Block B ispermanendy fastened to the table(T) by two screws (8) one inch from theedge. The secondary part of my invention is a metal rod (R in FIG. 1)which is approximately 7 inches long and inches in diameter. All theholes in the block (B) and card-holder (C) are so machined as to acceptthe rod (R) in a snug manner.

Referring to FIG. 1, card-holder (C) shows the individual squares foreach assigned finger. To use the rotating technique, the operator wouldinsert the rod (R) into the hole (2) in the block (B) which would thenallow the card-holder to be turned or rotated on the rod extending fromthe center hole (3) in the card-holder. To print a finger, the operatorwould then tip the card-holder to the desired angle to receive one sideof the inked finger. With experienced knowledge of proper pressure, theoperator would then rotate the cardholder around the finger whileholding the finger relatively level, but moving it to follow the paper,and until the rotation completed the half circle, or the other end ofthe finger.

Referring to FIG. 2. In this position, the assembly is the same aspresently used as standard and accepted procedure, that is, immovableand stationary. To use in the ordinary manner the card-holder is heldfirmly against the table by inserting the rod (R) into the hole whichgoes completely through the block, hole No. l; the rod remains in thecenter hole of the card-holder. The card-holder is pushed firmly againstthe block (8) and over the table (T). The versatility of thiscard-holder is that, in seconds, it can be converted from one use toanother.

This versatility of my invention will be a boon to the fingerprintexpert, or novice, in that the degree of deformity of the subject willdetermine the technique to be used. He can start out fingerprinting asubject with the card-holder as in FIG. 2, stationary; then if itappears that he will have some difficulty, he can move to the rotatingposition, as FIG. 1. If he has still more difficulty, he can then moveto the position as in FIG. 4. using the small axis of any finger whichshows a problem; then back to any desired position, as necessary. Thisall in seconds.

Another added feature of my invention is in the occasional necessity offingerprinting cadavers. Presently the standard procedure is to cutapart a record card into squares of each finger space. These squares arenow placed into a spoon-like apparatus and pressed onto the inked fingerof the subject. The squares then are pasted back onto a blank card inproper sequence. With my invention, the card-holder (C in FIG. I) may beremoved from the assembly, and the rod (R) removed from the cardholder.The operator then, with only the cardholder in his hand (with a completecard in it) can rotate the card-holder around the inked fingers of thesubject.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is covered bythe folling:

1. Apparatus for taking fingerprint impressions comprising:

A horizontally disposed planar base;

a block element supported on the planar surface of said base and set infrom a generally straight edge thereof;

said block element having, in the vertical forward face thereof, atleast two, horizontally aligned bores which are of equal diameter, ofunequal extent and normal to said forward face;

a planar member adapted to hold a plurality of finger print receivingcards;

a separate bore associated with each card support area and adapted to bealigned with each of said two bores;

a rod element of a size conforming to all aforerecited bores and of alength whereby said planar member may be fixedly supported on said baseand against said forward face when the rod is associated with the longerof said two bores and any of said separate bores and whereby a printreceiving card may be rotated about a finger member when the rod isassociated with the shorter of said two bores and the said separate boreassociated with the card to be rotated.

1. Apparatus for taking fingerprint impressions comprising: Ahorizontally disposed planar base; a block element supported on theplanar surface of said base and set in from a generally straight edgethereof; said block element having, in the vertical forward facethereoF, at least two, horizontally aligned bores which are of equaldiameter, of unequal extent and normal to said forward face; a planarmember adapted to hold a plurality of finger print receiving cards; aseparate bore associated with each card support area and adapted to bealigned with each of said two bores; a rod element of a size conformingto all aforerecited bores and of a length whereby said planar member maybe fixedly supported on said base and against said forward face when therod is associated with the longer of said two bores and any of saidseparate bores and whereby a print receiving card may be rotated about afinger member when the rod is associated with the shorter of said twobores and the said separate bore associated with the card to be rotated.